Evaluation of Some SMTP Testing, Email Verification, Header Analysis, SSL Checkers, Email Delivery, Email Forwarding and WordPress Email Tools

By Dr. Hidaia Mahmood Alassoulii

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a set of rules used while sending emails. Usually, this protocol is associated with IMAP or POP3. However, SMTP is utilized to deliver messages, while POP3 and IMAP are utilized to receive them.
The  SMTP testing tool identifies issues with email security in your server that can hinder your email delivery. It checks the health status of your outgoing email server and notifies you about the detected problems, such as connectivity issues, and how to tackle them. An SMTP test tool can identify SMTP server issues and troubleshoot them to keep your email secure and safe.
The SSL Checker tool can verify that the SSL Certificate on your web server is properly installed and trusted.
Header Analyzers can help you view and analyze message headers by displaying the information in a user-friendly manner and also by calling out various issues, such as suspected delivery delays that may require your attention.
Cloudflare, Inc. is an American company that provides content delivery network services, cloud cybersecurity, DDoS mitigation, and ICANN-accredited domain registration services.
Registration of international domains can be done through https://NIC.UA website.
Mailtrap.io  is Email Delivery Platform for individuals and businesses to test, send and control email infrastructure in one place.
You can use the built-in Send-MailMessage cmdlet to send SMTP e-mails from PowerShell.
Infinityfree.com provide free website hosting with PHP and MySQL and no Ads in your website.
WP Mail SMTP is the best WordPress SMTP plugin that allows you to easily send WordPress emails using a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP).  If you send an email via your WordPress form, you will then be able to keep track of it.
The book consists from the following sections:
1. Types of DNS Records.
2. SSL and TLS Certificates:
3. Replacing the Default FortiMail Certificate:
4. Header Analysis:
5. Some Tools for Email Verification.
6. Evaluation of Some SMPT Testing Tools.
7. Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer.
8. Creating Free Domain in https://nic.ua and Linking it to Cloudflare.com.
9. Mailtrap.io Email Delivery Platform.   
10. Sending Emails Using Windows Power Shell.
11. Free Web Hosting from infinityfree.com.
12. Installing Different Types of Plugins Related to Mail  on the WordPress Website.
13. Setting Up a Business Email and Email Forwarding Through Improvmx.com.
14. SSL Certificates Checkers.
15. References.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Hidaia Mahmood Alassouli
• Release date: Jul 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9791222422886

Book preview

1) Introduction:

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a set of rules used while sending emails. Usually, this protocol is associated with IMAP or POP3. However, SMTP is utilized to deliver messages, while POP3 and IMAP are utilized to receive them.

The SMTP testing tool identifies issues with email security in your server that can hinder your email delivery. It checks the health status of your outgoing email server and notifies you about the detected problems, such as connectivity issues, and how to tackle them. An SMTP test tool can identify SMTP server issues and troubleshoot them to keep your email secure and safe.

SSL certificates are what enable websites to use HTTPS, which is more secure than HTTP. An SSL certificate is a data file hosted in a website's origin server. SSL certificates make SSL/TLS encryption possible, and they contain the website's public key and the website's identity, along with related information. Devices attempting to communicate with the origin server will reference this file to obtain the public key and verify the server's identity. The private key is kept secret and secure.

The SSL Checker tool can verify that the SSL Certificate on your web server is properly installed and trusted.

Email headers are present on every email you receive via the Internet. The email header is generated by the client mail program that first sends it  and by all the mail servers on route to the destination. Each node adds more text, including from/to addresses, subject, content type, time stamp and identification data.  You can trace the path of the message from source to destination by reviewing the email header text.

Header Analyzers can help you view and analyze message headers by displaying the information in a user-friendly manner and also by calling out various issues, such as suspected delivery delays that may require your attention.

Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer provides many tests, including tests for Inbound and outbound SMTP emails. The Inbound SMTP Email test shows you the various steps taken by an email server to send your domain an inbound SMTP email. Similarly, an Outbound SMTP Email test finds out your outbound IPs for some requirements. It includes Reverse DNS, RBL checks, and Sender ID.

Cloudflare, Inc. is an American company that provides content delivery network services, cloud cybersecurity, DDoS mitigation, and ICANN-accredited domain registration services.

Registration of international domains can be done through https://NIC.UA website.

Mailtrap.io  is Email Delivery Platform for individuals and businesses to test, send and control email infrastructure in one place.

Windows PowerShell is mostly known as a command-line shell used to solve some administration tasks in Windows and apps running on this OS. At the same time, it is a scripting language that allows you to tailor cmdlets – lightweight commands to perform specific functions.  You can use the built-in Send-MailMessage cmdlet to send SMTP e-mails from PowerShell.

Infinityfree.com provide free website hosting with PHP and MySQL and no Ads in your website.

WP Mail SMTP is the best WordPress SMTP plugin that allows you to easily send WordPress emails using a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP).  If you send an email via your WordPress form, you will then be able to keep track of it.

Improvmx.com is good Email Forwarding website to be used to receive and send emails with your domain name. You can setup  business Email and Email forwarding through improvmx.com. . It is possible to add any ImprovMX alias as a sending email on Gmail. 

The book consists from the following sections:

1. Types of DNS Records.

2. SSL and TLS Certificate.

3. Replacing the Default FortiMail Certificate.

4. Header Analysis.

5. Some Tools for Email Verification.

6. Evaluation of Some SMPT Testing Tools.

7. Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer.

8. Creating Free Domain in https://nic.ua and Linking it to Cloudflare.com.

9. Mailtrap.io Email Delivery Platform.

10. Sending Emails Using Windows Power Shell.

11. Free Web Hosting from infinityfree.com.

12. Installing Different Types of Plugins Related to Mail  on the WordPress Website.

13. Setting Up a Business Email and Email Forwarding Through Improvmx.com.

14. SSL Certificates Checkers.

15. References.

2) Types of DNS Records:

a) What is a DNS zone?

The DNS is broken up into many different zones. These zones differentiate between distinctly managed areas in the DNS namespace. A DNS zone is a portion of the DNS namespace that is managed by a specific organization or administrator. A DNS zone is an administrative space which allows for more granular control of DNS components, such as authoritative nameservers. The domain name space is a hierarchical tree, with the DNS root domain at the top. A DNS zone starts at a domain within the tree and can also extend down into subdomains so that multiple subdomains can be managed by one entity.

b) What is a DNS zone file?

A zone file is a plain text file stored in a DNS server that contains an actual representation of the zone and contains all the records for every domain within the zone. Zone files must always start with a Start of Authority (SOA) record, which contains important information including contact information for the zone administrator.

c) What is a zone serial number?

A zone serial number is a version number for the SOA record. In the example above, the serial number is listed next to 'SERIAL.' When the serial number changes in a zone file, this alerts secondary nameservers that they should update their copies of the zone file via a zone transfer.

d) What is a zone transfer?

A DNS zone transfer is the process of sending DNS record data from a primary nameserver to a secondary nameserver. The SOA record is transferred first. The serial number tells the secondary server if its version needs to be updated. Zone transfers take place over the TCP protocol.

e) What is a DNS record?

DNS records (aka zone files) are instructions that live in authoritative DNS servers and provide information about a domain including what IP address is associated with that domain and how to handle requests for that domain. These records consist of a series of text files written in what is known as DNS syntax. DNS syntax is just a string of characters used as commands that tell the DNS server what to do. All DNS records also have a ‘TTL’, which stands for time-to-live, and indicates how often a DNS server will refresh that record.

f) What are the most common types of DNS record?

A record - The record that holds the IP address of a domain.

CNAME record - Forwards one domain or subdomain to another domain, does NOT provide an IP address.

MX record - Directs mail to an email server.

TXT record - Lets an admin store text notes in the record. These records are often used for email security.

NS record - Stores the name server for a DNS entry.

SOA record - Stores admin information about a domain.

SRV record - Specifies a port for specific services.

PTR record - Provides a domain name in reverse-lookups.

g) What is a DNS A record?

The A stands for address and this is the most fundamental type of DNS record: it indicates the IP address of a